Carrie best biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so great, none have offered the category of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is honesty second best-read presidential biography recompense all time, and six reserved the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at tending time or another.

No president beforehand Lincoln required as much be more or less my time, either – depute took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies. Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice introduce many as the president go one better than the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s flush Lincoln was both a delightful individual and a masterful member of parliament. His life story is chimp interesting as anyone’s (president slip-up otherwise), and he proved faraway more impressive than most clean and tidy the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Irrational read was Michael Burlingame’s excellent two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” available in 2008. This 1,600 come to mind jewel is actually the condensed version of the much somebody original manuscript that is only unengaged online (free!). Although daunting for copperplate new Lincoln admirer and doubtless more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography report extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing paucity of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, goodness Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 predominant the Republican convention of 1860. Because of its extensive thickness and depth of coverage that may not be the fully realized introduction to Lincoln for tedious readers. But for anyone fascinated in Lincoln, this an worthy – perhaps unrivaled – in two shakes or third biography of Attorney to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A. Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the following best single-volume biography of Lawyer (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disapproving. Although fairly lengthy (at in effect 700 pages) it is amusing to read and easy be proof against follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in uncomplicated sea of confusing details, point of view to provide incremental clarity extract context he has embedded dexterous large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at tetchy points within the text.

Compared summit Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided polite insight into this early episode of Lincoln’s life. And as White focused so intently underline the development of Lincoln’s permissible and political careers he wanting far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the giddy Mary Todd Lincoln was as well far more generous than deny treatment at the hands more than a few many other Lincoln biographies. Whole, White’s biography proved an extreme, if not perfect, introduction pause Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. On any occasion since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained elegant passionate and loyal following opinion is often considered the first single-volume biography of Lincoln ever. Donald’s biography provided me magnanimity first truly captivating view admonishment the interactions between Lincoln impressive his cabinet members. I along with found the author’s description have a high opinion of Lincoln’s hunt for the directorship (including the Republican nominating meeting of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But now I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed abide by find the author’s writing combination to be that of unmixed accomplished historian rather than neat as a pin great storyteller. In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without admit between chronological and topic-focused progression. Finally, I had hoped to legitimate the same colorful, intellectual stomach intriguing Abe Lincoln in that biography that I had tumble in others…and by a wee margin I did not. Nevertheless overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” deference an exceptionally worthy biography be first can be recommended without bewilderment. (Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: The Duration of Abraham Lincoln” was nobleness fourth biography of Lincoln Uncontrolled read. When published, Oates’s autobiography was the first comprehensive air at Lincoln in almost several decades and replaced Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography of Lincoln chimpanzee “the” definitive work on President. Unfortunately, a little more pat a decade after this book’s publication, Oates was accused elaborate plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter than dignity other biographies of Lincoln Distracted had read, “With Malice Shortly before None” was more efficient occur my time but at justness cost of ignoring many allowance the interesting details found affix other biographies. And while magnanimity author’s writing style is pleasingly informal, it occasionally seems doomed to failure serious as well. I further found Oates’s descriptions of excellent number of Lincoln’s most vital personal and political friendships wanting, and the author misses honourableness opportunity to provide his compress explicit judgments as to Lincoln’s actions and legacy. Overall, spruce up good but not great unveiling to Lincoln. (Full review here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my list. That was the first comprehensive single-volume biography of Lincoln in righteousness thirty-five years following publication look after Lord Charnwood’s 1916 Lincoln life. This book immediately feels need one written by a normal storyteller rather than a archivist (though Thomas was both). Definitions of both people and rumour are usually brilliant and trade name for an enjoyable reading knowledge. In addition, the author’s encouragement chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations of President as president) proves extremely interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s lack have a phobia about focus on Lincoln’s family, rulership adequate but not excellent survey of the Lincoln-Douglas debates with the Republican convention of 1860, and his seemingly perfunctory recapitulation of Lincoln’s cabinet selection shape. But overall I was not thought out at how much I enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year old history of Lincoln and for put a stop to it ranks at or away “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, survive for more than a four weeks, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years”  (published in 1926) and climax four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years” (published in 1939). The contemporary was awarded the Pulitzer Adoration in history, and the appal volumes together totaled about 3,300 pages.

Although it is unsurprising digress the author of the principal two volumes was a rhymer, the final four volumes could easily have been written in and out of an Ivory-tower academic. The earlier is often lyrical and pellucid while the latter is addon often needlessly verbose and lively. Sandburg’s combined works are effective in scope, but uneven acquire focus and he often has difficulty separating the important running off the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” comment excellent at transporting the order to Lincoln’s place and hold your horses, describing his surroundings and grandeur local culture wonderfully. But dignity series is not an exemplar biography of Lincoln’s early lifetime.  For its part, “The Warfare Years” is an exhaustingly well account of Lincoln’s presidency (a great deal can be splayed in 2,400 pages, after all) but is frequently difficult space follow and consistently dense and burdensome to read. One almost gets the sense Sandburg expected hurtle be paid by the page.

Although it was an astonishing enterprise at the time, Sandburg’s offend volumes compare poorly to goad Lincoln biographies I’ve read satisfy terms of efficiency with leadership reader’s time, effectiveness at performance potent information to the handbook, and maintaining a consistently engaging experience. I’ve not read Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version of these six books, but although illustriousness original six volumes are rarely interesting and informative, more over and over again they are just taxing. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Occupation I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Artist of Abraham Lincoln.” This review one of the most favourite presidential biographies of all fluster and was written by first-class Pulitzer Prize winning author (though for her biography of FDR, not Lincoln). Published in 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for the hardcover was Lincoln’s decision to firstrate his presidential rivals for characterless positions in his cabinet. Nobleness story of their relationships debate each other is marvelously well-told.

Much of the time “Team hint at Rivals” is really a manifold biography of Lincoln, William Pol, Edward Bates and Salmon Engage. Goodwin weaves a narrative which is entertaining and often consummate. Unfortunately, left behind in grandeur effort to write a notebook focused on Lincoln’s cabinet laboratory analysis adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s juvenescence and pre-presidency; the reader bash rushed through these years delight in order to focus on rectitude book’s raison d’etre.

But in many good word, “Team of Rivals” is in truth exceptional. Probably no other story provides a more interesting bear more thoughtful review of Lincoln’s interactions with his key advisers, and Goodwin resists the tendency to allow her biography acquisition Lincoln to devolve into a-ok tedious review of the Cultivated War. Overall, this is spick very good book for smashing new fan of Lincoln, however it is a great game park for someone seeking an entertaining cope with informative narrative about his team domination advisers. (Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Attorney and American Slavery” was obtainable in 2010 and received illustriousness 2011 Pulitzer Prize for life. Although included on my heave of best biographies, it example far less a biography end Lincoln than a treatise flinch his views of slavery. Conj albeit this is a topic well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average irregular and effort. His analysis appreciation generally clear and articulate, even if the text can be longdrawnout rather than interesting at former. And despite professing itself willing be “both less and very than another biography” it practical not a biography at all. Irritated that reason, I declined work stoppage provide a rating for that book. (Full review here)

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* Felon McPherson’s “Tried by War: Abraham Attorney as Commander in Chief” was next on my list. That 2008 biography focuses on Lincoln’s role as the nation’s empress in chief during the Lay War. McPherson is best painstaking, of course, for authoring interpretation highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the best one-volume work ever published on decency Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s thorough focus on Lincoln’s presidency in attendance is virtually no introduction telling off the man at all. Extent the author clearly chose that approach in order to refill a unique cast to rulership biography, no analysis of President can possibly be complete shun conveying key basic elements receive Lincoln’s background. And while McPherson claims no other Lincoln biography has ever focused adequately on circlet role as commander in leading, I find this argument less-than-convincing. Rather than seeing Lincoln overexert a new perspective, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Next-to-last on low list was Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” published in 1999. Often described as an “intellectual biography” this book quickly takes on the feel of proposal academic paper written by put in order history professor rather than dinky biography written by a penny-a-liner. Through its earliest pages, vital not infrequently throughout, it resembles a political and philosophical disquisition rather than a biography. Integrity book seems geared to strong academic, not a broad, audience.

The best feature of this tome is Guelzo’s epilogue which decline one of the best terminal chapters of any presidential memoir I’ve ever read. For address list impatient but determined reader, that section of Guelzo’s biography have to be read first…and possibly brace or four times. But possession someone seeking an ideal curtain-raiser to Abraham Lincoln or top-hole fluid narrative of his woman from birth to death, Distracted would look elsewhere. (Full dialogue here)

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* The final biography Uproarious read on Lincoln was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This memoir was only added to low point list recently when I was able to obtain a 96 year old copy…and couldn’t contain the urge to see Attorney through the eyes of orderly British baron.

By far the ascendant interesting and insightful portion invoke this book is its important sixty pages. Here, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British tryst assembly the history of the Combined States up to the in advance of Lincoln’s presidency. These pages are worth reading by anyone interested in US history.

The residue of the book is oftentimes beautifully written, but barely abundant as an introductory biography. That is due at least explain part to the book’s entice and comparatively limited primary provenience material available to the columnist when this biography was cursive nearly a century ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I lately read David S. Reynolds’s fresh release “Abe: Abraham Lincoln essential His Times.” This self-described cultural biography is hefty (932 pages of text), informative and finest at placing Lincoln within honesty context of the political, commercial and social cross-currents of circlet era. However, it pre-supposes wonderful familiarity with Lincoln and empress times, fails to humanize him, largely ignores his personal being (though his wife receives first-class attention) and brushes past a number of significant historical events which would receive attention in a statesman traditional biography.

This book can tweak recommended to Lincoln aficionados search a deeper understanding of achieve something he navigated his era, nevertheless cannot be recommended for hominid seeking a comprehensive introduction finish with Lincoln’s life and legacy.  (Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I open-minded finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Life of Ibrahim Lincoln” published in 2014. Though its subtitle and marketing efforts are both suggestive of neat as a pin biography, this book’s mission appreciation something altogether different (and, correspond to the right audience, intriguing): Outdo seeks to explore Lincoln’s alltime efforts to perpetuate the go of the Founding Fathers stomach to connect his actions function his understanding of their correct intentions.

Unfortunately, this book is neither a dedicated biography nor nifty focused exploration of Lincoln’s civil philosophy. Instead, it is deft somewhat uncomfortable hybrid of rendering two which leaves the “whole” worth less than the grand total of its parts. Readers hunting a traditional biographical experience (or even a cohesive introduction display the 16th president) need drawback look elsewhere, and dedicated fans of Lincoln will the chronicle interesting…but with an excess wait conjecture and speculation. (Full con here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s publicly praised “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the Inhabitant Struggle” was published in illustriousness fall of 2022. Like patronize other recent books on Attorney, this one is marketed (at least implicitly) as a biography…and the publisher claims that cuff “chronicles the life of Patriarch Lincoln.” But while the 421 page narrative does follow dignity broad contours of Lincoln’s discrimination – from cradle to final restingplace – most of its liveliness is directed toward the investigation of Lincoln’s moral, religious stall political views and closely looking his antislavery commitment.

Supported by author than 200 pages of take out notes and bibliography, this silt one of the most best-researched books on a president I’ve ever read. And it assay extremely successful in its ambition of enlightening the reader reorganization to the sources, and revolving, of Lincoln’s attitude toward vassalage. Readers already familiar with picture fascinating texture of Lincoln’s mundane life will find this precise a rewarding supplement. But united seeking a thorough, comprehensive plus colorful introduction to Lincoln’s character and legacy will need interrupt look elsewhere for a statesman “traditional” biography . (Full regard here)

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Best “Traditional” Biography of Ibrahim Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Archangel Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– David Herbert Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: Far-out Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lincoln Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Patriarch Lincoln”